The US, which spearheaded the negotiations, and Malaysia have both decided to pull out from the 12-nation pact.

Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla informed the Federal Court that his clients instructed the withdrawal of the lawsuit as the matter was now academic.

“First by withdrawal of US from the TPP on January 23, 2017 and the second one (is) where our own minister of trade just two days ago had in Parliament confirmed that as the terms of agreement as it stands, Malaysia is not keen to proceed,” he told the court.

The Federal Court panel chaired by the Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif struck out the application and made no order as to costs, as the government’s senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan had agreed not to seek any.

The two other judges on the panel are Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop and Datuk Dr Prasad Sandosham Abraham. Read more →

Protesters holding a TPPA protest poster and candles while sitting on the road at the entrance of Komplex Pejabat Kerajaan Jalan Duta, on February 13, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 — Although initially opposed to Malaysia joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), local critics are not rejoicing over the United States’ withdrawal from the 12-nation free trade deal, cautioning instead that the trade pact may be revived or survive in other forms.

Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, president of anti-TPPA group Persatuan Teras Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Malaysia (Teras), indicated that it was still unclear if the TPPA deal is truly called off just because the US decided to pull out.

“For me I’m not celebrating anything yet, as government has already started process of ratifying, the government have to announce what has been amended and how far we have gone, because we may have done some changes, amending policies and laws even though TPPA dysfunction.

“Now we only heard from America that it is withdrawing, but the other 11 partners they are just saying without US, it’s not workable. Have they actually dissolved it, have they actually come out with official statement of status of TPPA?” he said, questioning if the deal would dissolve on its own or if steps would have to be taken to officially dismantle it.

Noting that the agreements with the US allegedly tend to be biased towards the influential economic superpowers’ interests, he said Teras is urging the Malaysian government to stop any amendment of policies and laws in the country’s bid to bring them in line with the TPPA and to restore them to the pre-TPPA position. Read more →

We refer to Munir Majid’s commentary ‘Be rational and honest about TPPA’ on Jan 16, 2016 in The Star.

Munir Majid claims that opposition against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is “excitable and emotional”. Besides being an blanket attack to shut down debate, he doesn’t point to any evidence of excitable and emotional responses.

The anti -TPPA responses do however reflect many legitimate responses – concern, anger, outrage and fear – but unlike the claims he makes these responses are informed and backed up by independent expert analysis. His article is substantiated only by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) where he sits as a director and the report by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) [SY1]. Read more →

Malaysians will only enjoy a salary hike of RM25 come 2027 if the country agrees to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) next month.

Bantah TPPA deputy chairman Azlan Awang explained that the amount was based on Cost Benefit Analysis done by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on salaries if the government decides to sign the TPPA.

He said the rakyat would not only experience the minimal increase, but there will also be a reduction in average household income of RM117 from 2018 to 2027.

“It is shocking that an agreement that was touted ‘a 21st century high quality agreement of gold standard’ would make an impact on almost all existing policies and only increase monthly salaries by RM25 in 2027,” he said in a statement today. Read more →

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 — The protection of Bumiputera interests within the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) may conflict with Malaysia’s aims of increasing its competitiveness if there is no time limit on the preferential terms, economist Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam cautioned today.

Ramon congratulated the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) in securing favourable terms in TPP negotiations, singling out in his praise the terms on state-owned enterprises (SOE) where preference is given to Bumiputera companies when contracts are awarded.

“On Bumiputera and SOE, I think it’s a great job. My only question, my only concern is that I’m not sure whether there is a time limit.

“If there is no time limit, I fear that in the longer term, the purpose of getting into TPP might be somewhat eroded, which is TPP intends to increase competition and access,” he said when posing a question during a question and answer session at MITI’s public dialogue on TPP.

In response, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said some general provisions in TPP will be reviewed in five or 10 years’ time, while the value of contracts set aside for Bumiputera firms will be gradually reduced. Read more →

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